The Parable of Money Usage
Luke 19:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
And they said to him, "Lord, he has ten minas".
This simple verse is so simple that modern Bibles think they can improve upon it by leaving out words, adding them, and changing them. If they don't like what Jesus said, why pretend to translate it?
People are shocked when others do not share their idea of fairness.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" at the beginning of the sentence is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is word not usually translated as "sir"
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "to him" after "said" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "mina" after "ten" is not shown in the English translation.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also". After words implying sameness "as".
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
said -- "They said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.
unto -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
him -- The word translated as "unto him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there".
Lord -- The word translated as "Lord" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family". It is the specific terms for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief".
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
hath -- The word translated as "hath " means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one" or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English.
ten -- "Ten" is the Greek word for the numeral "ten".
pounds -- "Pounds" is the Greek word for a "a weight", "a sum of money" and the amount of about "100 drachmas". The Greek word mna (μνᾶ) was borrowed from Semitic. Different city states used minae of different weights. The Aeginetan mina weighed 623.7 g (22.00 oz). The Attic mina weighed 436.6 g (15.40 oz).] According to Plutarch, the price of a sheep was one drachma or about 40 kg of wheat. Thus a mina was worth 100 sheep.
And missing "And " -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
Sir -- (CW) The word translated as "sir" is the same word that is often translated as "Lord" or "the Lord" in the NT. It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family". It is the specific term for the master of slaves or servants, but it was a common term of respect both for those in authority and who were honored. It was the term people used to address Christ, even though he had no formal authority. Today, we would say "boss" or "chief". This is word not usually translated as "sir".
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
said -- "They said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.
missing "to him" -- (MW) The untranslated word "unto him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there".
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
already -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. IW - Inserted Word-- The "already" doesn't exist in the source.
has -- The word translated as "hath " means to "have", "possess", "bear", "keep close", "have means to do", "to have due to one", "keep" and many specific uses. This verb isn't used to form past tenses as it is in English.
ten -- "Ten" is the Greek word for the numeral "ten".
missing "mina" -- (MW) The untranslated word "a weight", "a sum of money", and the amount of about "100 drachmas". The Greek word mna (μνᾶ) was borrowed from Semitic. Different city states used minae of different weights. The Aeginetan mina weighed 623.7 g (22.00 oz). The Attic mina weighed 436.6 g (15.40 oz).] According to Plutarch, the price of a sheep was one drachma or about 40 kg of wheat. Thus a mina was worth 100 sheep.
καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "but". After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also". Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also" and "just".
εἶπαν (verb 3rd pl aor ind act) "I have called" is eipon, which means "to speak", "to say", "to recite", "to address", "to mention", "to name", "to proclaim", "to plead", "to promise" and "to offer".
αὐτῷ (adj sg masc dat) "Unto him" is autos, which means "the same" and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself" or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her" and "it". It also means "one's true self", that is, "the soul", as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord". In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there".
Κύριε, (noun sg masc voc) "Lord" is kyrios (kurios), which means "having power", "being in authority" and "being in possession of". It also means "lord", "master of the house" and "head of the family".
ἔχει ( verb 3rd sg pres ind act ) "He hath" is echo, which means "to have", "to hold", "to possess", "to keep", "to have charge of", "to have due to one", "to maintain", "to hold fast", "to bear", "to carry", "to keep close", "to keep safe" and "to have means to do".
δέκα (numeral) "Ten" is from deka, which means the number ten.
μνᾶς: (noun pl fem acc) "Pounds" is mna, which means "a weight", "a sum of money" and "100 drachmas".
Were those servants driven by an idea of fairness? Possibly one that involved giving those minas to them because they had less?